If you lock in a mortgage rate, make sure the expiration date leaves enough time to complete the real estate closing. The flood of home purchases and refinancings has created major processing delays, so if there is any question about the processing time, or if you seem to be cutting it close, you may want to pay a little more for a longer lock-in period rather than risk losing your rate.
Nitrogen encourages leafy growth, often at the expense of flowers and fruit. Don’t use high-nitrogen fertilizers on tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants prior to flowering.
Giving the power tool time to wind down after a cut is an often-overlooked safety mistake. Even without power, the spinning blade can still do a lot of damage.
The National Hurricane Center gives the storm a name from the list once a tropical storm reaches wind speeds of 39 mph and develops a counter-clockwise circulation.
The letters Q, U, X, Y and Z are omitted from the list because so few names begin with those letters. Names associated with storms that have caused significant death and/or damage are usually retired.
Flood Watch – Flash flooding or flooding is possible within the designated WATCH area. Be alert.
Flood Warning – Flash flooding or flooding has been reported or is imminent. Take necessary precautions at once.
Stream Advisory – Flooding of small streams, streets, and low-lying areas, such as railroad underpasses and urban storm drains, is occurring.
Flood Statement – Follow-up information regarding a flash flood/flood event.
Batteries will keep their charge longer if they’re kept cool. Warmer temperatures will shorten their life. Always recharge a battery right after it is used. Never store an uncharged battery and recharge unused batteries every two months.
A common shop repair is fixing spindles in a chair that have loosened up. When the end of the spindle is too small for the hole, a good fix is to simply wrap and glue thin veneer around it. To hold the veneer in place while the glue dries, use an automotive hose clamp. Once done, you can either rebore the hole or shave the spindle end for a snug fit.
If you have dents in the metal-clad doors in your home, one answer is to use auto-body fillers to make the fix. Either the polyester resin or fiberglass paste fillers bond well with steel, and the repair can be made like on a car. But, because you can finish the door with acrylic-latex trim paint, not glossy auto body paint, you don’t need the skills of an auto body technician to get excellent results.
Gable vents help heat escape and help keep condensation from forming in the attic during winter months.
Whether you intend to install insulation yourself or hire a contractor, make sure that you know the guaranteed minimum R-value you are looking for. Have any contractor state that installed R-value as part of the bid. Also, prepare for the project by assessing what needs to be done to reduce air infiltration before installation. Include the cost of these added components and labor in your cost calculations. Keep in mind, too, that a tight home requires ventilation, so you may need to take another look at your bathroom and whole house ventilation strategies. Armed with all of this information, select the insulation that meets your energy efficiency, budgetary, and installation requirements. The end result will be a job well done, with energy and cost savings to tally long into the future.
